Written Answers Wednesday 25 January 2006

Scottish Executive

Airports

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the buy-out of the PFI contract for the Inverness Airport terminal building will be completed and from what date it will be legally extinguished.

Tavish Scott: The buy-out of the Inverness Airport PFI is expected to be achieved through the purchase of Inverness Air Terminals Limited (the PFI concession company) by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL). As a consequence, the PFI contract will come under the control of HIAL. Completion of the purchase will take place immediately after agreement between HIAL and the PFI owner is executed. Negotiations are at an advanced stage.

Airports

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, once the PFI contract for the Inverness Airport terminal building has been bought out, whether it will publish the public sector comparator used at the outset to compare the relative estimated costs of PFI with public sector funding and, if not, whether it will give its reasons for declining to make the document public.

Tavish Scott: Yes.

Bridges

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-13787 and S2W-13788 by Nicol Stephen on 8 February 2005, what further progress has been made in the pursuit of the cost of repairs to the Erskine Bridge following the damage caused by an offshore structure colliding with the bridge.

Tavish Scott: Our legal advisers have successfully secured an abandonment of the debate which was due to take place on 27 to 30 September 2005 and secured an award of expenses in our favour. They are currently pressing the court and other parties to confirm a final hearing on the issue of liability and quantum of damages, which will be determined by the court if the parties are unable to reach agreement. However, our legal advisers have made it clear to the other parties involved that we are open to any method of dispute resolution within or outwith the litigation process. Thus far, the other parties have declined to provide any proposals and while the matter remains unresolved, liability for interest on the outstanding sums continues to accrue.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Central Heating Programme

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much social landlords have paid to CORGI in registration fees since the introduction of the Gaswork Notification Scheme.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  
The information requested is not held centrally. Communities Scotland does not require registered social landlords to provide it with this information.

Child Protection

David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were prosecuted in Scotland for a crime as a result of Operation Ore.

Colin Boyd QC: Charges relating to Operation Ore cannot be identified separately on the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s Case Management Database from other charges relating to the making of indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children and other related offences.

Concessionary Travel

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to ensure that all people who are eligible for free travel under the concessionary travel scheme can use their entitlement.

Tavish Scott: To be eligible for the Scotland-wide free bus scheme for older and disabled people, people must apply locally for an entitlement card. We are working with local managers to ensure that current concessionary card holders do so. In addition, we will shortly be launching Scotland-wide publicity to reinforce the message and to encourage non-card holders to apply.

  To help people to use their entitlement we will ensure the needs of visually impaired users are taken into account when looking at the practicalities of using the entitlement card.

Concessionary Travel

Mr Jim Wallace (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the potential cost of extending the young person’s national concessionary travel scheme to (a) full-time mature students and (b) all mature students.

Tavish Scott: The Executive is currently focusing on planning and implementing the Partnership Agreement commitment to progressively introduce a scheme of national bus, rail and ferry concessionary travel for young people. No estimates have been made of the cost of extending the scheme to full-time mature students or all mature students. Such estimates would require detailed analysis of bus, rail and ferry usage by mature students, and discussions with key stakeholders in local transport authorities and the bus, rail and ferry industries.

Crime

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive in what ways police forces differ in their approach to recording crime.

Cathy Jamieson: All police forces have applied the national Scottish Crime Recording Standard since April 2004.

Crofting

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the membership is of the Crofting Advisory Group with whom ministers are consulting ahead of the final draft of the Crofting Reform Bill.

Rhona Brankin: The membership of the Crofting Panel of Experts is as follows:

  
Ian MacKinnon (ex Deputy Chair CC, member NFUS Crofting Committee, Skye crofter and farmer, Gaelic speaker)
  John Laing (SCF Director, Councillor, Highland Council Planning Committee, Skye crofter)
  Jim Hunter (writer on crofting, ex Chair HIE, ex Ch. Exec, SCU)
  Derek Flynn (specialist crofting solicitor in private practice)
  David Green (Chair, Crofters Commission)
  Kenny MacIver (Chair, Stornoway Trust, Gaelic broadcaster)
  Jane Brown (grazings clerk, crofter from North Shetland)
  Duncan Baird (land and development consultant, Argyll; ex SE Agricultural staff)
  Shane Rankin (SE Bill Leader, Ch. Exec, CC)
  Gordon McNicoll, (OSSE)
  Michael Wright (SEERAD, Bill Team)
  Emma Murray (SEERAD, Bill Team).

Crofting

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings of the Crofting Advisory Group have been held; where such meetings were held, and on what dates.

Rhona Brankin: One meeting of the Crofting Panel of experts has been held, on 21 October 2004. The meeting was held in the Marriott Hotel in Inverness.

Crofting

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what future meetings of the Crofting Advisory Group are planned.

Rhona Brankin: There are currently no planned future meetings of the Crofting Panel of Experts.

Crown Estate

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Parliament has powers under the Scotland Act to remove the powers of the Crown Estate Commission to control and generate income from the use of inshore waters and the seabed and, if so, by what mechanism this could occur so that such powers are devolved to local authorities.

Ross Finnie: Schedule 5.2(3) of the Scotland Act 1998 reserves the management of the Crown Estate to the UK Parliament and UK Government. The control of, and generation of income from, those areas of inshore waters and seabed vested in the Crown Estate is therefore a reserved matter. Accordingly, the Scottish Parliament has no general power to remove those functions of the Crown Estate Commissioners.

Dental Health

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental practices have ceased providing NHS dental services in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board and showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Lewis Macdonald: In the requested period 133 practices ceased and 137 practices began providing NHS general dental services.

  The information requested for the financial years 1999-2000 to 2004-05 is detailed in the tables: Number of Dental Practices that Ceased Providing NHS General Dental Services. For comparison details of the number of dental practices in Scotland that have commenced providing NHS general dental services over the same period are also provided in tables: Number of dental practices that began providing NHS general dental services. Copies of these tables have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers: 38690 and 38691).

Dentistry

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many, and what percentage of, students graduating from dental schools left Scotland for their first post in each of the last three years, showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Nicol Stephen: The information held by the Scottish Executive on destinations of graduates from Scottish universities comes from a voluntary survey conducted six months after the student graduated. The following table shows the percentage of responding graduates of clinical dentistry from Scottish universities who were employed in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK for the last three years.

  

Year of Graduation
% of Respondents Employed in Scotland2
% of Respondents Employed Elsewhere in UK2
% of Respondents Employed
Number of Graduates in Year1


2002
83%
14%
96%
135


2003
89%
9%
98%
85


2004
71%
23%
94%
180



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency.

  Notes:

  1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest five. 2. Percentages may not sum to fourth column exactly due to rounding.

Drug Misuse

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what facilities are available for women’s drug rehabilitation services.

Hugh Henry: It is for local drug action teams and partners to design and deliver services for drug misusers, tailored to meet local needs and priorities. Information provided by drug action teams through corporate action plans for 2005-06 shows that there are 65 non-residential services across Scotland which have facilities specifically for women. Residential facilities available for women’s drug rehabilitation include those provided throughout Scotland by the Aberlour Child Care Trust for women and their children who have a dependency on drugs or alcohol.

  Criminal Justice disposals such as Probation with a Condition of Treatment and Drug Treatment and Testing Orders are also available for women offenders with substance misuse problems.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children have been admitted to each hospital in each NHS board area for (a) drug-related and (b) alcohol-related conditions in each of the last five years, showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Hugh Henry: Information showing the number of children (aged under 16) discharged with an alcohol related or drug misuse diagnosis has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 38666).

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of (a) drug and (b) alcohol addiction involving people aged (i) under 16 and (ii) 16 to 18 have been recorded in (1) total and (2) each NHS board area in each of the last five years, showing year-on-year percentage changes and expressed also as a percentage of the population within that age bracket.

Hugh Henry: Information showing the number of new individuals coming into contact with drug treatment services aged under 16, and between 16 and 18, for the years 2000-01 to 2004-05 has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 38667).

Education

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated specifically to the education and training of adult black and minority ethnic groups in each year since 1999.

Nicol Stephen: Information on the targeting of other Executive education and training programmes is not held centrally. Funding for programmes such as Skillseekers and Modern Apprenticeship programmes is demand led, and therefore not targeted at specific groups. Funding for Community Learning and Development (CLD), including Adult Literacy and Numeracy is allocated through local CLD Partnerships who make funding decisions based on local need.

  The Scottish Executive allocated an additional £5.4 million (£1.4-£2 million to £2 million) to the Scottish Further Education Funding Council (SFEFC) between 2001-04 to fund asylum seekers. This allowed the waiving of the three year residency rule for these students so that they would be eligible for funding, fee waiver and hardship funds to attend college. £2 million was added to the SFEFC baseline in 2004-05 as part of Spending Review 2004.

Elderly People

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to carry out a consultation on the establishment of a strategy for the ageing population and whether it will provide details of (a) the subjects to be included in any such consultation, (b) the timetable, (c) how it will be publicised and contributions invited and (d) what funding will be allocated to address any outcomes of the consultation.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive is aiming to launch its consultation on the development of the Strategy for a Scotland with an Ageing Population by the end of February 2006.

  
(a) The strategy aims to provide a framework that includes access to opportunities for older people to make a continuing contribution; effective integrated services for older people; promoting and maintaining health and well-being, and people living in accommodation and environments which continue to meet their needs and wishes as they age.
(b) The final strategy will be published by the end of 2006.
(c) The aim is for the consultation to be publicised through existing networks including the Ageing Population Strategy Advisory Group and the Older People’s Consultative Forum, both chaired by the Minister for Communities, in the media, and on a website. Contributions will be invited from interested parties and from the general public.
(d) We will consider how to deliver on the outcomes of the strategy in due course.

Electricity Act 1989

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many wind farm applications made under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 have been (a) approved and (b) refused.

Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-21471 on 15 December 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  Since then I have announced consent for one further wind farm and no refusals have been issued.

Employment

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs have been lost in (a) textiles, (b) tourism, (c) electronics, (d) farming, (e) the public sector and (f) other sectors in the Scottish Borders in each year since 1999.

Nicol Stephen: Statistics on the number of jobs lost are not held centrally.

Energy

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many dwellings lack a loft space, thus preventing occupiers from benefiting from the loft insulation initiatives supported by energy suppliers.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  
The 2002 Scottish House Condition Survey estimates that approximately 605,000 dwellings (28% of the total housing stock) do not have a loft space.

Energy

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many dwellings lack cavity walls, thus preventing occupiers from benefiting from the cavity wall insulation initiatives supported by energy suppliers.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  
The 2002 Scottish House Condition Survey estimates that approximately 577,000 (26% of the total housing stock) dwellings in Scotland do not have a cavity wall.

Energy

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are available to assist the occupiers of dwellings without loft spaces or cavity walls to improve standards of insulation in their homes.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  
Under both the Scottish Executive’s Central Heating and Warm Deal Programmes, occupiers of dwellings without a loft space or cavity walls can benefit from pipe and tank insulation, draught proofing and low energy lightbulbs. Householders also receive energy advice.

Enterprise

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to assist the Borders textile industry and, in particular, cashmere production, in light of recent redundancies at Douglas of Scotland and John Laings of Hawick.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Textiles team in Scottish Enterprise has a remit to assist the sustainable development and growth of the textile industry throughout Scotland, including the Borders. The team works with a number of partners to deliver a wide range of support measures to address the industry’s issues such as workforce development, image technical capability and overseas development. In addition, Scottish Enterprise Borders has provided financial and administrative support to the Cashmere Club which represents 85% of the Borders based cashmere industry over a four year period.

Enterprise

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12475 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 26 January 2001, how often and on what dates the Scottish Textiles Forum has met since its inception.

Nicol Stephen: The forum has met twice a year since its inception. It met on 4 March 2002, 2 September 2002, 7 March 2003, 5 September 2003, 13 February 2004, 10 September 2004, 28 January 2005 and 23 September 2005.

Enterprise

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what role there is for the Scottish Textiles Forum in respect of the redundancies in textile production in the Scottish Borders.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Textiles Forum provides a central coordinating body linking industry with government. The forum will therefore continue to work with industry and key partner organisations to develop strategic direction for the industry and appropriate measures of support.

  Scottish Enterprise Borders is working closely with other agencies such as Careers Scotland, Scottish Borders Council and JobCentre Plus through the PACE initiative to help those made redundant find suitable new employment.

Enterprise

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been provided to support textile production in the Scottish Borders in each of the last six years; where the funding has been allocated, and for what purpose.

Nicol Stephen: Since 2001 Scottish Enterprise has provided over £1.7 million through Scottish Textiles to support the Scottish textiles industry. A further breakdown to show specific figures for the Borders and purpose of the funding is not available as disproportionately high costs would be attached to obtaining this information.

  Scottish Enterprise Borders has provided a financial contribution of £419,000 over a four year period from 2001-05 to the Borders based Cashmere Club. This is in addition to £130,000 from Scottish Borders Council and up to £632,000 from the EU. This funding was used for brand promotion and enhancing the brand image. In addition, local enterprise companies provide a range of business support services assisting training and business development.

  From 2000 the Scottish Executive has provided some £538,000 in Regional Selective Assistance to Scottish Textiles companies in the Borders to support capital investments of £2.4 million creating or safeguarding 110 jobs. Scottish Development International provides £50,000 per annum to support and promote the industry internationally.

Environment

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its 2006 target date to achieve 25% recycling rates refers to the beginning or the end of 2006.

Ross Finnie: The target in the National Waste Plan is to achieve 25% recycling/composting of municipal solid waste by 2006. We intend to measure this by taking the average of the recycling/composting rates achieved throughout 2006.

Equal Opportunities

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage CBI Scotland to adopt and promote sex equality strategies amongst its members to eradicate sex discrimination in the workplace.

Nicol Stephen: This is, of course, a matter for Confederation of British Industry (CBI) themselves. We understand that the CBI across the UK is already promoting sex equality strategies amongst its members to help eradicate sex discrimination in the workplace.

  CBI has published several papers on the subject including its response to the Women and Work Commission report Choice at Work: Women, The Labour Market and the Gender Pay Gap. The CBI is also engaged in a number of initiatives regarding women and the labour market and has board membership of the current Equal Opportunities Commission investigation into the employment prospects of ethnic minority women. The CBI has also issued a Diversity statement, which offers information and advice to employers on how best to embed diversity in their organisations. The CBI’s Equality Forum meets three times a year to discuss legislative developments and exchange best practice on gender equality and other diversity issues.

  Scottish Enterprise, on behalf of the Scottish Executive, promotes equal opportunities policy in its engagement with business and advises employers on compliance with equal opportunities legislation.

Ferry Services

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21597 by Tavish Scott on 13 January 2006, what the precise dates were on which discussions in respect of a Users Charter relating to the services provided by Western Ferries between Inverclyde and Cowal took place and which parties were present.

Tavish Scott: Western Ferries proposals for a Users’ Charter were discussed at meetings on the dates detailed below. The parties present at each meeting are also indicated below:

  
8 June 2004 – Scottish Executive officials and representatives from Western Ferries.
  19 July 2004 – Scottish Executive officials and representatives from Western Ferries.
  11 August 2004 – Minister for Transport, Scottish Executive officials and representatives from Western Ferries.
  9 November 2004 – Scottish Executive officials, representatives from Western Ferries and representatives from Argyll and Bute Council.
  15 December 2004 – Scottish Executive officials and representatives from Western Ferries.
  22 September 2005 – Minister for Transport, Scottish Executive officials and representatives from Western Ferries.

Ferry Services

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21597 by Tavish Scott on 13 January 2006 and acknowledging that the "decisions, actions or conclusions" in respect of a Users Charter relating to the services provided by Western Ferries between Inverclyde and Cowal that were referred to in that answer were overtaken by the December 2004 announcement, what the precise details were of these "decisions, actions or conclusions".

Tavish Scott: At the meetings in June, July and August, Western Ferries outlined their proposals for a Users’ Charter. Discussions at that stage were exploratory in nature as the Executive sought clarity on the company’s proposals. At the meeting in November, Western Ferries provided further information on the detail of their proposals. However, the proposals were not considered any further by the Executive as they were overtaken by the Executive’s proposals for the Gourock to Dunoon service as announced on 8 December 2004. The Executive did not therefore reach a stage where it was required to take any decisions or actions or form any conclusions on Western Ferries’ proposals for a Users’ Charter.

Ferry Services

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21597 by Tavish Scott on 13 January 2006, what was deemed to be the relevance of the minister’s meeting with Western Ferries in September 2005; what precise objectives were set for that meeting, and what was achieved.

Tavish Scott: The Managing Director of Western Ferries wrote to me shortly after my appointment as Minister for Transport requesting a meeting to discuss issues related to ferry services in Scotland, particularly the Gourock to Dunoon service. I agreed to meet the company as part of a series of meetings in which I engaged with stakeholders across the transport industry. Given that the meeting was initiated by Western Ferries, the Executive did not set any specific objectives for the meeting. However, as a consequence of the meeting, I gained more of an understanding of the company’s views.

Further and Higher Education

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many graduates obtained a degree in chemistry from each of Scotland’s universities in each of the last five years, showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Nicol Stephen: The following tables show the number of chemistry graduates from each of Scotland’s Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) in each of the last five years, as well as year-on-year percentage changes.

  Chemistry graduates from Scottish Higher Education Institutions, 1999-2000 to 2003-04

  1999-2000

  

 
Total
Postgraduate
First Degree
Other HE


Total
690
225
430
35


University of Abertay Dundee
5
0
5
0


The Robert Gordon University
55
20
15
15


The University of Paisley
25
5
25
0


Glasgow Caledonian University
30
5
30
0


Napier University
20
0
10
10


The University of Edinburgh
140
45
95
0


The University of Glasgow
55
5
50
0


The University of Strathclyde
160
80
80
0


The University of Aberdeen
70
35
35
0


Heriot-Watt University
55
10
35
5


The University of Dundee
20
10
10
5


The University of St Andrews
50
10
40
0


The University of Stirling
0
0
0
0



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

  In this table 0, one and two are rounded to 0. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest five to protect confidentiality.

  Values may not sum to total due to rounding.

  2000-01

  

 
Total
Postgraduate
First Degree
Other HE
% Change 
in the Total from 
1999-2000 to 2000-01


Total
620
150
450
15
-10%


University of Abertay Dundee
20
0
15
0
200%


The Robert Gordon University
40
15
15
10
-23%


The University of Paisley
25
0
25
0
4%


Glasgow Caledonian University
25
5
20
0
-25%


Napier University
25
0
20
5
18%


The University of Edinburgh
110
20
90
0
-22%


The University of Glasgow
70
5
60
0
19%


The University of Strathclyde
150
65
80
0
-8%


The University of Aberdeen
40
5
35
0
-45%


Heriot-Watt University
45
5
40
0
-17%


The University of Dundee
20
5
15
0
5%


The University of St Andrews
55
20
35
0
6%


The University of Stirling
0
0
0
0
N/A



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

  In this table 0, one and two are rounded to 0. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest five to protect confidentiality.

  Values may not sum to total due to rounding.

  Percentages have been calculated on un-rounded numbers.

  2001-02

  

 
Total
Postgraduate
First Degree
Other HE
% Change 
in the Total 
from 
2000-01 to 2001-02


Total
590
150
410
25
-5%


University of Abertay Dundee
10
0
5
0
-50%


The Robert Gordon University
30
10
15
5
-32%


The University of Paisley
20
0
20
0
-19%


Glasgow Caledonian University
20
0
20
0
-8%


Napier University
15
0
15
0
-35%


The University of Edinburgh
105
25
80
0
-3%


The University of Glasgow
65
0
60
0
-7%


The University of Strathclyde
150
65
80
0
1%


The University of Aberdeen
40
15
25
0
0%


Heriot-Watt University
45
5
40
0
2%


The University of Dundee
20
10
10
0
-5%


The University of St Andrews
55
20
35
0
2%


The University of Stirling
0
0
0
0
-50%


Bell College*
15
0
0
15
N/A



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

  In this table 0, one and two are rounded to 0. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest five to protect confidentiality.

  Values may not sum to total due to rounding.

  Percentages have been calculated on unrounded numbers.

  *Bell College became a higher education institution (HEI) in 2001-02.

  2002-03

  

 
Total
Postgraduate
First Degree
Other HE
% Change 
in the Total from 
2001-02 to 2002-03


Total
560
150
380
35
-5%


University of Abertay Dundee
5
0
5
0
-33%


The Robert Gordon University
35
10
15
10
32%


The University of Paisley
25
0
25
0
9%


Glasgow Caledonian University
25
5
20
0
18%


Napier University
5
0
5
0
-59%


The University of Edinburgh
85
20
60
5
-20%


The University of Glasgow
75
0
75
0
17%


The University of Strathclyde
145
70
80
0
-2%


The University of Aberdeen
20
10
10
0
-46%


Heriot-Watt University
45
10
35
0
2%


The University of Dundee
5
0
5
0
-67%


The University of St Andrews
60
20
40
0
11%


The University of Stirling
0
0
0
0
0%


Bell College*
20
0
10
10
57%



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

  In this table 0, one and two are rounded to 0. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5 to protect confidentiality.

  Values may not sum to total due to rounding.

  Percentages have been calculated on unrounded numbers.

  *Bell College became a higher education institution (HEI) in 2001-02.

  2003-04

  

 
Total
Postgraduate
First Degree
Other HE
% Change 
in the Total from 
2002-03 to 2003-04


Total
525
200
305
20
-7%


University of Abertay Dundee
5
0
0
0
-50%


The Robert Gordon University
40
35
0
5
11%


The University of Paisley
25
5
20
0
-4%


Glasgow Caledonian University
15
0
10
0
-50%


Napier University
0
0
0
0
-100%


The University of Edinburgh
75
20
55
5
-8%


The University of Glasgow
60
10
55
0
-16%


The University of Strathclyde
155
85
70
0
5%


The University of Aberdeen
40
15
25
0
86%


Heriot-Watt University
65
10
55
0
37%


The University of Dundee
5
0
0
0
-43%


The University of St Andrews
35
20
15
0
-43%


The University of Stirling
0
0
0
0
N/A


Bell College*
10
0
0
10
-64%



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

  In this table 0, one and two are rounded to 0. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5 to protect confidentiality.

  Values may not sum to total due to rounding.

  Percentages have been calculated on unrounded numbers.

  *Bell College became a higher education institution (HEI) in 2001-02.

  The tables include graduates who have studied chemistry as a single subject, a major subject or in a balanced combination with one other subject.

Further and Higher Education Colleges

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will bring forward proposals to amend the law to allow the appointment of councillors to the chair of college boards.

Nicol Stephen: The position is currently under review, and an announcement on this and other measures relating to the constitution of college boards of management is due by the spring.

G8 Summit

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage public agencies and businesses to translate the fact that "the G8 has a particularly high profile in Scotland’s main tourism markets" into economic opportunities for Scotland, as set out by SQW Economic Development Consultants in their report, Economic Impact of Hosting the 2005 G8 Summit at Gleneagles .

Patricia Ferguson: VisitScotland will build on the international TV news coverage of Scotland hosting the G8 summit, which showcased many iconic aspects of what makes this country attractive to leisure and business visitors from overseas. Business tourism in particular is a very important segment of the overall tourism market, and for that reason VisitScotland’s Business Tourism Unit was involved with aspects of the planning for G8. The unit will use the experience of the summit to strengthen the international marketing of Scotland as a world class business tourism destination.

Justice

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions for underage tobacco sales there have been in each year since 1997 and, of these, how many convictions resulted, broken down by police force area.

Colin Boyd QC: The following table shows the total number of charges reported in the last three financial years where Procurators Fiscal commenced court proceedings for contraventions of the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937, Section 18(1), which relates to the sale of tobacco or cigarette papers to a person under 16.

  Court Proceedings Commenced: Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937, Section 18(1)1

  

Police Force Area
Convicted or Not
Charges Reported2


2002-03
2003-04
2004-05


Grampian Police 
Convicted
1
1
0


Not Convicted
0
1
2


Lothian and Borders Police
Convicted
0
2
1


Northern Constabulary
Case not yet concluded
0
0
2


Strathclyde Police 
Convicted
1
0
0


Not Convicted
1
0
0


Tayside Police
Not Convicted
0
0
1



  Notes:

  1. The information in this table has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s Case Management Database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.

  2. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service completed an upgrade of its electronic case management system in April 2002. Only case records created after that date contain complete data which is capable of electronic analysis.

Justice

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people with mental illness have died in police custody in each year since 1999, broken down by police force area.

Cathy Jamieson: This information is not held centrally.

Justice

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the 140-day rule has been extended since the enactment of the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2004.

Cathy Jamieson: Since the enactment of the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2004 on 1 April 2005 there have been 109 extensions granted by the High Court in respect of the 140 day time limit, relating to 66 indictments.

Justice

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-20694 by Cathy Jamieson on 28 November 2005, how the Minister for Justice reconciles her reply that the Scottish Fingerprint Service has a "consistent approach to fingerprint identification which is followed by all fingerprint officers" with her reply to question S2W-20244 on 9 November 2005 which confirms the existence of disagreements between the Aberdeen Fingerprint Bureau and the Scottish Criminal Record Office.

Cathy Jamieson: The fact that there is a disagreement over a single specific historical fingerprint identification does not imply an inconsistent approach to fingerprint identification. There is no disagreement in the Scottish Fingerprint Service (SFS) about the basis of fingerprint identification and all fingerprint identifications are carried out using the Assess, Compare, Evaluation and Verify (ACE-V) process, and are subject to internal quality assurance and to external independent audit under the ISO 9001:2000 Certificate to which the SFS is accredited.

Justice

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-20694 by Cathy Jamieson on 28 November 2005, whether the Assess, Compare, Evaluation and Verify (ACE-V) process is fallible and what evidence it has to justify its reply.

Cathy Jamieson: The process of Assess, Compare, Evaluation and Verify (ACE-V) is the description of the scientific approach to fingerprint analysis adopted by fingerprint professionals and criminal justice agencies world-wide. It is a qualitative approach rather than an arbitrary quantitative approach whereby the likelihood of error is minimised because the quality of the mark is the basis from which the identification is made.

Landfill Tax

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how the proceeds of landfill tax are distributed within Scotland.

Ross Finnie: Landfill Tax is a reserved matter.

  At the last Spending Review, the Scottish Executive received consequentials arising from increases in the Landfill Tax. We agreed to use these resources to support initiatives benefiting business and local authorities and have allocated the resources as follows:

  

Initiative
Purpose of initiative
2005-06(£ million)
2006-07(£ million)
2007-08(£ million)


Waste and Resources Action Programme
To develop markets for recycled products and to work on household waste prevention.
2.8
5.2
3.5


Envirowise
To provide advice to business on waste prevention
1.5
1.6
2.3


Energy Efficiency
To promote energy efficiency 
1.5
2.5
1.5


Strategic Waste Fund 
To support local authorities prevent waste arsing; recycle and compost waste and divert waste away from landfill
 
 
9.5


Local government finance settlement
See separate table below.
2.2
5.7
1.2


Local authority contaminated land
To support local authorities carry out their statutory duties in relation to contaminated land
 
 
5.0


Total
 
8.0
15.0
23.0



  The resources allocated to the core local government finance settlement were intended for the purposes outlined as follows. These resources are not ring-fenced and local authorities are free to spend them as they see fit, based on local needs and priorities.

  

 
2005-06(£ million)
2006-07(£ million)
2007-08(£ million)


Landfill costs
1.0
2.5
 


Flytipping officers
1.2
1.2
1.2


Abandoned vehicles
 
2.0
 


Total
2.2
5.7
1.2



  In addition, the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme operates in Scotland. This scheme is a reserved matter. More information can be found on the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme website www.ltcs.org.uk.

Ministerial Correspondence

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21461 by Allan Wilson on 19 December 2005, whether it will publish the letter from the Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning to his Whitehall counterpart referred to in the answer.

Allan Wilson: The content of my letter was private and confidential. I therefore have no plans to publish this letter.

Ministerial Meetings

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings officials and ministers have had with representatives of CBI Scotland in each year since 1999, specifically to discuss aspects of Executive policy.

Nicol Stephen: A very considerable number of meetings between the Executive and CBI Scotland have taken place since 1999, however the exact number is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Our Partnership Agreement for a Better Scotland, clearly sets out the Executive’s commitment to working in partnership with business. We value the skills, knowledge and experience of those in the Scottish business community and we are keen to work closely with business to develop Scotland’s economy and deliver real growth and opportunities for the people of Scotland.

  To foster this partnership agenda, ministers and officials engage regularly with business organisations, including CBI Scotland, on a wide spectrum of Executive policy.

Ministerial Meetings

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings officials and ministers have had with the Scottish Trades Union Congress in each year since 1999, specifically to discuss aspects of Executive policy.

Nicol Stephen: Information on how many meetings officials and ministers have had with the STUC since 1999 is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  There have been a very significant number of meetings since 1999. The Scottish Executive recognises the important role that trade unions play in promoting economic development and representing workers interests in Scotland and we work closely with the STUC on matters of mutual interest. In April 2002, the Executive signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the STUC and this underpins the Executive’s commitment to working with the STUC across a wide range of policy issues.

  Under the terms of the memorandum, ministers meet formally with the STUC twice a year to exchange information about policy issues. Ministers also meet with the STUC, as necessary, to discuss specific issues around their portfolios. In addition, the Executive’s Permanent Secretary and Management Group meet the STUC on an annual basis, and other officials engage regularly with STUC to discuss specific policies.

Police

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has examined the impact on the operation of railway policing in Scotland if the British Transport Police were to merge wholly or partially with the Metropolitan Police service.

Cathy Jamieson: A full merger with the Metropolitan Police service is not being considered as part of the Westminster Government’s review of British Transport Police. If the British Transport Police was only to be partially absorbed by the Metropolitan Police Service then that would mean that the policing operation in Scotland would remain as it is.

Police

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will protect and enhance specialist knowledge and expertise in railway policing in Scotland.

Cathy Jamieson: Responsibility for railway policing in Scotland is reserved. Nevertheless, Scottish ministers recognise that in order to protect public confidence in the police service generally there is a need to ensure public safety on our railways and tackle railway crime.

Police

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what railway safety training is provided to police officers.

Cathy Jamieson: This information is not held centrally.

  However, officers with the British Transport Police receive the same basic training as their counterparts in the eight regional forces. Thereafter, any bespoke rail safety training is provided outwith the programme operated by the Scottish Police College.

Police

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police stations were closed in each police force area in (a) 2003, (b) 2004, (c) 2005, and (d) 2003 to 2005, also stating what percentage of the total number of police stations in each force area the figures represented.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is not held in the format requested or for all of the time periods stipulated. I refer the member to the answers to questions, S2W-9973 and S2W-10733 on 9 and 29 September 2004 respectively. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Police

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many days have been lost as a result of sickness in the police in each of the last 10 years, broken down by police force area.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is shown in the following tables.

  Number of Sick Days

  

Force
1995-96
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000


Central
6,947
6,961
9,205
11,101
8,673


Dumfries and Galloway
1,868
1,947
3,364
2,713
3,413


Fife
5,985
7,075
6,102
10,029
8,818


Grampian
6,945
6,807
8,455
8,626
7,522


Lothian and Borders
26,154
24,968
31,724
37,370
30,624


Northern
6,550
5,941
6,128
6,282
6,234


Strathclyde *
 
 
 
 
 


Tayside
10,920
10,459
9,392
7,074
16,246



  

Force
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05


Central
9,869
8,944
9,654
9,807
7,596


Dumfries and Galloway
3,687
3,052
2,598
4,532
3,952


Fife
7,920
9,804
8,870
9,044
10,341


Grampian
7,035
7,561
10,519
11,742
11,075


Lothian and Borders
32,222
30,840
33,967
34,168
30,657


Northern
5,436
6,095
6,213
6,789
6,439


Strathclyde
 
 
82,037
83,153
73,033


Tayside
16,003
14,910
13,893
12,543
12,019



  Source: Annual Statistical Returns to HM Inspectorate of Constabulary by forces.

  Note: *No accurate information on sick absences for Strathclyde Police prior to 2002-03.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many tribunal cases have been brought against the (a) Scottish Prison Service, (b) police and (c) fire service in each year since 1999 and for what reason; how many cases found in favour of the services, and how much these proceedings cost in total.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is not held centrally.

Prison Service

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-17683 by Cathy Jamieson on 26 July 2005 and taking into account the new method of publishing crime statistics, what the prison population has been in each financial year since 1950-51.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The requested information is given in the following table:

  Average Daily Prison Population:

  

Year
Population
 
Year
Population
 
Year
Population


1950-51
1,765
1969-70
4,848
1988-89
5,168


1951-52
1,917
1970-71
5,237
1989-90
4,886


1952-53
2,102
1971-72
5,409
1990-91
4,738


1953-54
2,135
1972-73
5,190
1991-92
4,897


1954-55
2,170
1973-74
4,707
1992-93
5,395


1955-56
2,169
1974-75
4,668
1993-94
5,588


1956-57
2,330
1975-76
4,766
1994-95
5,630


1957-58
2,463
1976-77
4,832
1995-96
5,632


1958-59
2,763
1977-78
4,892
1996-97
5,992


1959-60
2,838
1978-79
5,038
1997-98
6,059


1960-61
2,820
1979-80
4,616
1998-99
6,029


1961-62
3,081
1980-81
4,822
1999-2000
5,974


1962-63
3,329
1981-82
4,455
2000-01
5,883


1963-64
3,471
1982-83
5,036
2001-02
6,185


1964-65
3,344
1983-84
4,956
2002-03
6,475


1965-66
3,410
1984-85
4,822
2003-04
6,620


1966-67
4,014
1985-86
5,399
2004-05
6,779


1967-68
N/A
1986-87
5,566
 


1968-69
4,648
1987-88
5,421

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21634 by Cathy Jamieson on 16 January 2006, whether any of its departments or agencies outwith the Scottish Prison Service hold information on comparative prison staff turnover in each (a) OECD nation and (b) EU member state.

Cathy Jamieson: Scottish Executive departments and agencies outwith the Scottish Prison Service do not hold any information on comparative prison staff turnover.

Racial and Religious Hatred Bill

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it considers that the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill for England and Wales will have on Scottish publishers, writers and broadcasters.

Cathy Jamieson: The Racial and Religious Hatred Bill will not apply to material published and distributed in Scotland. The bill will, however, apply to material published or distributed in England and Wales by Scottish publishers, writers and broadcasters.

Rail Network

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether the introduction of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link Bill has been delayed and, if so, why and what additional costs have been incurred by (a) it and (b) Strathclyde Passenger Transport as a result of any such delay.

Tavish Scott: The draft Private Bill for the Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL) was submitted to the Scottish Parliament, by Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT) on 9 January 2006, and is expected to be formally introduced on 31 January.

  Earlier versions of the SPT programme for delivery envisaged a submission/introduction for the Private Bill in spring/summer 2005. In consultation with the Scottish Executive, it was agreed that they, and TIE Ltd the promoters of the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link, should utilise the Parliament’s summer recess (2005) to:

  
consult further with the Private Bills Unit (PBU);
  await the report from the Waverley Railway (Scotland) Bill Committee, and thereby
  ensure that they had learned from the experiences of previously submitted transportation legislation in drafting the GARL Bill and accompanying documentation, thereby making the most efficient use of the Parliament’s time and resources.


  Subsequently the Parliament’s Procedures Committee was minded to consider changes to the Private Bills process which would allow the appointment of an Inquiry Reporter to hear the detailed objections at the Consideration stage. It was therefore agreed that the Private Bills for the airport rail links should not be submitted until the committee was in a position to finalise its consideration and recommendation to Parliament.

  Transport Scotland has incurred no additional cost as a result of this, as the projected end date for the GARL project remains unchanged.

  SPT have advised that they have approved an additional £350,000, or 10% of the previously advised costs for the development of the GARL project and subsequent support through the Parliamentary process. The additional costs are as a result of (i) the additional work undertaken by SPT and their consultants over the summer recess in consulting with the PBU, and subsequent revision to the Bill and accompanying documentation, and (ii) to comply with the Presiding Officers determination with regard to consulting with Scottish National Heritage, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Historic Scotland in respect of the projects Environmental Statement.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Rendition Flights

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of comments by former US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, that European states were being "disingenuous" in indicating that they have no evidence of rendition flights through member states, whether it will make further representations to Her Majesty’s Government in order to clarify that no such flights have taken place through Scottish airports.

Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-20910 on 7 December 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Rendition Flights

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21577 by Cathy Jamieson on 22 December 2005, whether it has given specific consideration to the opinions expressed by Lord Steyn.

Cathy Jamieson: The opinions expressed by Lord Steyn have been noted.

Rendition Flights

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-21579 and S2W-21580 by Cathy Jamieson on 22 December 2005, whether these indicate that the Executive’s position is that it would expect the police to take action in the circumstances referred to in the questions.

Cathy Jamieson: The investigation of crime is a matter for the police. The police will act if there is specific, credible information to justify such action.

Rendition Flights

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21585 by Cathy Jamieson on 22 December 2005, whether it will now discuss the allegations made by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, given the on-going media reports that US agencies have used Scottish airports to refuel flights carrying individuals suspected of being involved in acts of terrorism to countries that practice torture.

Cathy Jamieson: As we have made clear on numerous occasions, torture is a crime under Scots law and anyone who claims to have information to suggest that a crime has been committed in Scotland should take that information to the police.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects further delay to the publication of the Route Action Plan for the A82 and, if not, on what date it expects the plan to be published.

Tavish Scott: The draft report arising from the A82 Route Action Plan Study has been received and is being considered by my officials. I expect a report to be submitted to me by the end of February. Following that our consultants will be preparing an executive summary which will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. The full documents will be available for inspection at that time.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Alex Fergusson (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the comments by the Minister for Transport and Telecommunications on 7 December 2005 (Official Report c. 21529), when Dumfries and Galloway Council was asked to assess the possibilities of another scheme on the A76 in the Gateside area and whether it will appoint consultants to identify an overtaking opportunity on the A76 in this area.

Tavish Scott: Dumfries and Galloway Council were invited by the Scottish Executive on 1 April 2003, to explore the possibilities of an alternative scheme in the Gateside area of the A76. There are no plans to appoint additional consultants for this work.

Roads

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people expressed a preference for an upgrade of the B979 through Netherley as part of the public consultation on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Tavish Scott: A report has been published which provides a breakdown of the main issues contained in the responses to the public consultation exercise. This can be downloaded from the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route website www.awpr.co.uk.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has carried out into the impact of speed bumps on osteoporosis sufferers.

Tavish Scott: The Executive has not carried out any such studies.

Roads

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to local authorities on the height of speed bumps and their impact on people with degenerative conditions.

Tavish Scott: Circular 9/1998, a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 38670) provides guidance to local authorities on the provisions of the Road Humps (Scotland) Regulations 1998, including advice on the height of humps. In addition, Traffic Advisory Leaflets published by the UK Government, in association with the Scottish Executive, provide guidance on the design and placing of humps of various designs. The guidance includes advice on the impact of different designs of hump on passenger discomfort, but does not include specific guidance on the impact of humps on people with degenerative conditions.

Roads

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any sections of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route will be constructed as single carriageway and, if so, which sections will be single carriageway; approximately what distance such sections will cover, and whether any of these sections will be reconsidered before construction to ensure that the effectiveness of the route is not undermined.

Tavish Scott: At present we believe that no sections of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route will be single carriageway, but that a wide single carriageway with overtaking sections would be sufficient for the traffic predicted to use the 13km Stonehaven to Milltimber spur. The final solution will depend on the detailed traffic modelling and design work currently being undertaken. We will also be discussing this with our project partners.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Road Works Commissioner will be appointed.

Tavish Scott: It is intended that the Scottish Road Works Commissioner should be appointed by the summer of 2006.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers the Scottish Road Works Commissioner will have to ensure that East Dunbartonshire Council expedites any local road maintenance works that are long overdue.

Tavish Scott: The prioritisation and programming of local road maintenance works is the responsibility of East Dunbartonshire Council as the roads authority for the area. It will not be within the remit of the Scottish Road Works Commissioner to intervene in such matters.

  The commissioner will, however, seek to ensure that all road works are carried out in a well planned and co-ordinated manner in order to minimise the inconvenience to the travelling public and local residents and businesses.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, following the £400,000 allocated from the Cities Growth Fund to West Dunbartonshire Council to resource the design and environmental appraisal of the Yoker relief road, what the expected timescale is for construction of the road.

Tavish Scott: The design and construction timetable of the Yoker relief road is a matter for West Dunbartonshire Council and the City of Glasgow Council as the local roads authorities.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance would be available to West Dunbartonshire Council and Glasgow City Council to construct the Yoker relief road following a successful appraisal of the project.

Tavish Scott: The Executive has made available additional funding of £60 million per annum to Scottish local authorities for improving local roads in 2006-07 and 2007-08 as part of Spending Review 2004.

  The establishment of the new statutory Regional Transport Partnerships provides an opportunity to consider projects, such as the Yoker relief road, through the development of the Regional Transport Strategy. This provides a means of prioritising projects and identifying funding which can be allocated from local and regional resources. The West of Scotland Transport Partnership will receive £14.227 million per annum for the next two years for the development of transport projects in the west of Scotland.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies have been conducted concerning the economic and social benefits which would accrue to West Dunbartonshire following the construction of the Yoker relief road.

Tavish Scott: Any studies conducted in connection with the construction of the Yoker relief road are a matter for West Dunbartonshire and City of Glasgow Council as the local roads authorities.

Roads

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-21304 and S2W-21305 by Tavish Scott on 15 December 2005, whether it will confirm that the number of bidders for the A68 Dalkeith Bypass tender is now reduced to two and that the tenders for the third generation term contracts for management and maintenance of the Scottish trunk network for the north west and south west units let on 8 December 2005 had only two bidders each, and whether these developments might lead the Executive to reconsider these answers.

Tavish Scott: We can confirm that there are now two bidders for the A68 Dalkeith Bypass and that there were two bidders for each of the recently awarded trunk road maintenance contracts. The answers provided to the earlier questions are still applicable.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Murray Tosh (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Transport Scotland will publish the full report, commissioned by the Executive, on the proposed A737 Dalry bypass.

Tavish Scott: A draft report on the A737 Dalry STAG study is currently being reviewed. Once the report is finalised, I would expect it to be made publicly available.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

School Transport

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the regulations are in respect of the age and style of buses transporting children to and from school.

Tavish Scott: The age and style of buses used for school transport are not set down in regulation.

School Transport

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is compulsory for buses transporting children to and from school to be fitted with lap belts.

Tavish Scott: Legislation relating to the fitting of seat belts in vehicles is the responsibility of the UK Government.

  All coaches and mini-buses carrying groups of children aged three to 15 years on organised trips (including dedicated home-to-school transport) are required to be fitted with lap belts as a minimum. However, this requirement does not apply to other buses, including public service buses engaged on organised school trips

School Transport

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action can be taken if lap belts are not fitted in a bus transporting children to and from school.

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action can be taken if seat belts are not fitted in a bus carrying schoolchildren.

Tavish Scott: All buses, whether used for school transport or general service, must meet certain regulatory requirements that set out the minimum standards that operators must comply with to ensure that their vehicles are operated safely. This includes requirements with regard to the fitting of safety belts. The enforcement of these statutory requirements is a matter for the police and the Vehicle Inspectorate.

  School transport is normally provided under contracts let by local authorities. It is open to local authorities to stipulate, in negotiating these contracts, that only vehicles equipped with safety belts will be accepted. If buses without seat belts were provided in breach of such a stipulation it would be for the local authority concerned to decide what action was appropriate.

School Transport

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is compulsory for buses carrying schoolchildren to be fitted with seat belts.

Tavish Scott: Legislation relating to the fitting of seat belts in vehicles is the responsibility of the UK Government.

  All coaches and mini-buses carrying groups of children aged three to 15 years on organised trips (including dedicated home-to-school transport) are required to be fitted with lap belts as a minimum. However, this requirement does not apply to other buses, including public service buses engaged on organised school trips.

  Since 1 October 2001, seat belts have been required in the forward and rearward facing seats of all new minibuses, coaches and buses (other than those specifically designed for urban use with standing passengers). The requirements are:

  
minibuses and buses with a gross weight of 3,500kg or less – three-point belt in forward facing seats and three-point belt or retractable lap belts in rearward facing seats;
  minibuses and buses with a gross weight of more than 3,500kg – three-point belts or retractable lap belts in forward and rearward facing seats, and
  coaches – three-point belt or retractable lap belt in all forward and rearward facing seats.

School Transport

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is compulsory for buses carrying schoolchildren to display distinctive retro-reflective yellow signs fitted to the front and rear of the bus.

Tavish Scott: Yellow retro-reflective school bus signs are required to be fitted to the front and rear of buses which are being used to transport children between home and school, with the exception of buses carrying children whilst operating a regular service to the general public.

Technology

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has collected to monitor Scotland’s progress in maintaining or expanding its science and technology links across the United Kingdom, Europe and beyond.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive does not collect information routinely which monitors links between the science and technology base in Scotland and elsewhere. Such links can take a very wide variety of forms, ranging from informal networking and conferences to formal collaborations between universities, businesses and research institutes. An important example is the Edinburgh to Stanford link, funded by a £6 million grant from Scottish Enterprise, which is making excellent progress. The Executive has recently asked the Scottish Funding Council and Universities Scotland to consider the feasibility of collecting information routinely to monitor research collaborations between universities here and outside Scotland.

Technology

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific actions have been taken to implement its commitment, referred to in A Science Strategy for Scotland , to ensure the effective use of scientific evidence in policy formulation and resource allocation by government and to review regularly the policies and spending of each of its departments against the key objectives of the strategy and related priorities; what early results have been achieved by these actions, and what the responses have been from the academic and business communities to such actions.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive subscribes to all the principles of the Government Chief Scientific Adviser’s Guidelines on the use of science in government, and implements these as fully as it can.

  The Executive uses scientific evidence, along with many other forms of evidence, as an integral and fundamental part of the policy-making process. An example is the work by the Health Economics Research Unit, funded by the Scottish Executive, to help inform policy on banning smoking in public places. Since A Science Strategy for Scotland was published in 2001, the Executive’s departments which spend significantly on scientific research have developed strategies to help target spending more effectively on research which will help to improve the health and quality of life of the people of Scotland.

  The Executive has formed an independent Scottish Science Advisory Committee, drawn from the academic, business and other parts of the science community, to advise it on priorities for science. This committee has published a number of reports evaluating the Executive’s progress on meeting science priorities. The Executive has also improved internal co-ordination through regular meetings of the Science Cross-cutting Group, comprising senior officials having responsibilities for managing science.

  The Executive will be further strengthening its management of science this year by appointing a Lead Chief Scientific Adviser. The post-holder will oversee activity to improve further the management of science in the Executive, in partnership with the recently appointed Chief Scientific Adviser in the Environment and Rural Affairs Department and the Chief Scientist in Health Department.

  The Executive plans to publish a report very shortly detailing progress on all areas of the science strategy, which will provide further details and examples of the use of science in policy-making. The Executive intends over the course of the next year to refresh the science strategy.

Technology

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reactions of the print and electronic media have been to A Science Strategy for Scotland and whether there is evidence of any trend towards increasing in-depth coverage of science in the media as a result of the implementation of the strategy.

Nicol Stephen: Media coverage of the launch of A Science Strategy for Scotland in August 2001 was very positive.

  The Science Strategy commits the Executive to supporting initiatives that enable the media, scientists and policy makers to work more closely together to effectively promote science to the people of Scotland. The Executive supports a wide range of public science initiatives which frequently attract helpful media attention, for example Science Week and the Edinburgh International Science Festival. The Executive is supporting the British Association’s Science Communication Conference in April, which will in part consider how to engage the media in a better coverage of science issues. The Executive plans to publish a report shortly, detailing progress on all areas of the Science Strategy, which will provide further details of activities in this area.

Technology

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a technology strategy in parallel to A Science Strategy for Scotland and, if so, when.

Nicol Stephen: Technology is recognised as a key strategic issue within the Scottish Executive’s Framework for Economic Development in Scotland and A Smart Successful Scotland . We intend to update the Science Strategy for Scotland in the coming year and technology issues will be fully addressed as part of this review.

Technology

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the ratio has been of males to females supported by the Student Awards Agency who have gained graduate or postgraduate qualifications in an information technology-related discipline in each year since 1999.

Nicol Stephen: The following table shows the proportion of males to females, who received tuition fee support from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS), graduating at first degree or postgraduate level in an information technology-related discipline in each year since academic year 1999-2000.

  

Academic Year
Total Information Technology Graduates (at First Degree and Postgraduate Level) Receiving SAAS Support
Male Graduates
Female Graduates
Proportion of All Graduates who are Male


1999-2000
1,190
880
310
74.0%


2000-01
1,075
800
275
74.4%


2001-02
1,325
975
350
73.5%


2002-03
1,445
1,110
335
76.8%


2003-04
1,510
1,190
320
78.8%



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency and Scottish Funding Councils.

  All numbers in this table (other than percentages) are rounded up or down to the nearest five.

  This answer relates only to those students who receive tuition fee support primarily from SAAS, as this is the only available information that can be linked with graduate information.

Visually Impaired People

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to the needs of visually impaired passengers when introducing travel card swipe machines on public transport as part of the concessionary travel scheme.

Tavish Scott: The travel cards used in the Scotland-wide free bus travel scheme for older and disabled people will be contactless smart cards that can be lightly placed on or above a card reader.

  My officials are arranging to discuss with the Royal Institute for the Blind how travel cards should be presented on the bus and guidance will be produced on their use for both users and operators.

Visually Impaired People

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the RNIB regarding the suitability of travel card swipe machines for visually impaired passengers on public transport.

Tavish Scott: The Royal National Institute for the Blind was among the consultees for the recent consultation on the terms of the Scotland-wide free bus travel scheme for older and disabled people. In addition, my officials are arranging to discuss with the Institute how travel cards should be presented on the bus.

Visually Impaired People

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing exemptions for visually impaired passengers who are eligible for free travel under the concessionary travel scheme to enable them to continue to show their travel cards to the driver and not have to use card swipe machines.

Tavish Scott: No. The use of smart cards will lead to greater accuracy in paying operators and will help to combat fraud. These benefits would be lost if exemptions were made.

  The Royal Institute for the Blind is discussing with us how travel cards should be presented on the bus and guidance will be produced on their use for both users and operators.

Voluntary Sector

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what funds are available to enable voluntary youth organisations to train volunteers in the skills needed to provide good leadership in youth work.

Robert Brown: The resources available to voluntary youth organisations were outlined in my answer to question, S2W-21187 on 13 December 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  In addition, training for volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations, including youth groups, is provided by infrastructure bodies funded by the Scottish Executive, such as Volunteer Development Scotland (VDS), the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) and the Volunteer Centre and Councils for Voluntary Service networks.

  Information about funds available for such training from other organisations, such as local authorities or charitable trusts, is not collected centrally.

Voluntary Sector

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget is for the Project Scotland personal development fund.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-22379 on 24 January 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .